Young Ones (2014 Sundance capsule)

It appears that a lot of work and thought went into the production design of Young Ones. It’s a shame none went into the screenplay. Writer/director Jake Paltrow conceived a desolate future in which water is a rare commodity, but he has nothing of interest to say about it. Stars Michael Shannon, Nicholas Hoult, Elle Fanning and Kodi Smit-McPhee do their best to carry the soapy drama, but the plot is so dependent on their characters’ idiocy that there’s no saving it. It makes you wonder if anyone involved in Young One’s production actually stopped to think about what they were putting on screen. And if they didn’t, why should anyone else?